Dear Magpie Army,
It is with mixed feelings that I announce I will complete my three-year term as President of the Collingwood Football Club and will not seek re-election at the upcoming AGM to be held on December 16 this year.
Over the past few years, we have done an extraordinary amount of work together at Collingwood, and I am grateful to have been able to play a role in our Club’s achievements on and off the field.
Our Club is in a very strong position, and the focus of all at Collingwood remains steadfast on continuous improvement as we build towards our next AFL Premiership and our first-ever AFLW Premiership.
I want to thank the Magpie Army – your loyalty sees our Club continue to break records for attendances and memberships year-on-year.
It was a promise I made on my election that we achieve 100,000 Members for the first time in our history and your incredible support has seen us well surpass that. Our Club’s off-field success has reflected our on-field aspirations, and I know that we have set the foundation for sustained success on all fronts.
I do want to assure you I am healthy and in remission from my cancer diagnosis last year, but as you would understand, the demands of being President are significant and carry a heavy responsibility and workload. I do need some more time to devote to maintaining my health and I am confident that the next President will bring their own style and lead the Club admirably and with great distinction.
Some highlights for me over the past three years include the talent we have bought into and those we have developed within our Club, the winning culture we have created, the completion of our industry-leading $15 million redevelopment of our facilities, establishing stronger working relationships with the AFL and other Clubs and playing a key role in leading initiatives relating to concussion to make our game safer for our players…and of course, our magnificent Premiership victory in 2023.
As a Club, we have been able to implement all 18 recommendations of the Do Better report and I am so pleased with our efforts in our Magpie Nest and community housing programs. I know our Club will continue to ensure that serving the community remains a fundamental part of our DNA as we strive for more Premiership success on the field.
With the full support of the Board, we have navigated what I have described as an unlucky year for Collingwood in 2024 —where the competition has never been more even and we unfortunately experienced an horrific run of injuries to our gallant players, something we cannot control.
I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together during my time as President and the memories we have created over the past three years will live on forever.
My wish for Collingwood is that it continues to be bold and evolve, blending the art and increasing proportion of science in football, to climb to the top of the mountain and relish in and maintain the view from there.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our Board for their hard work and unity, the administration for their skill, dedication and tireless efforts, the playing groups — men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams — who continue to inspire us all, the coaching teams for their strategic brilliance, application and practical skill, and our critically important corporate partners, all of whom have renewed their commitments this year, setting us up so well for the future.
As I step away, I do so knowing that the Club is in a very healthy position – a much better position to that I found at the beginning of my journey, and I look forward to being in the stands at the MCG and Victoria Park and barracking with you, side by side, for our continued success.
My heartfelt thanks to every single Member and supporter for your unwavering support – the confidence you showed in me, and for allowing me this great honour and privilege of serving our mighty Club.
Floreat Pica.
Jeff Browne
President
Collingwood Football Club
